Scooter board



Nov. 26, 1940- s. s. MITTLEBURG ET AL 2 SCOOTER BOARD Filed July 25, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l BY Corgffiliobel ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1940. s. s. MOITTLEB'URG ET AL 2,222,678

SCOOTER BOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1939 Kw) w ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1940- s. s. MITTLEBURG ET AL 5 SCOOTER BOARD Filed July 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I S me f mfiebw L- G Clijford Lobel 5 h w. w

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCOOTER BOARD Samuel S. Mittleburg, New York, and Clifiord Lobel, Brooklyn, N. Y.

9 Claims.

construction of a scooter chassis arranged in a 10 manner so that many portions thereof may be folded up to reduce the compass of the scooter so it may easily be stored in a closet, or corner, or other small place.

Still further the invention proposes the con- 15 struction of a novel scooter which will be attractive to the general public, and which will create a new sport both for children and grown-ups.

Another object of this invention is to so construct a scooter that it may be provided with various types of extra gadgets to increase its price and to make it a high price item, or it may be constructed without these gadgets to produce a low price article.

Still further the invention proposes a novel construction for the steering mechanism of the scooter, characterized by a handle which is hingedly mounted and which may be folded when desired.

Still further the invention contemplates a nov- 30 e1 construction of a seat ,mounted upon the scooter body and arranged in a way so that it may be folded flat against the scooter body.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of a scooter as mentioned which in its 35 simplest form may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description 40 and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a scooter constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the scooter illustrated in Fig. 1.

50 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view as though taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, but illustrated with the steering handle hinged closed.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a portion of the 55 steering mechanism.

Application July 25, 1939, Serial No.. 286,306

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of an upper plate used in the steering mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational View looking in the direction of the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional 5 View taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional, View taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 2. 10

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line l0l0 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a scooter constructed inaccordance to another embodiment of this invention.

Fig.- llA-is a perspective view of one of the traction elements used in Fig. 11.

.Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the steering mechanism of another scooter constructed according to another modification of this invention. a Fig. 13 is ,a perspective view of a scooter constructed according to a still further embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken on 5 the line I l-l4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is. a perspective view .of the steering mechanism of another scooter, constructed according to another embodiment of this invention.

The scooter, illustrated in Figs; 1 to 10 inclusive, includes a flat body l5 of wood or metal and having side rails l6 along its sides and bumpers H or similar members at its front and rear ends. A disc I8 is axially rotatively mounted on the bottom face of the body I5 in the vicinity of its front end. Traction elements are mounted on the bottom of the disc 18. In the form of the invention illustrated these traction elements comprise wheels 19. These wheels are mounted on brackets 20 which are engaged in holding clamps 2| mounted upon the bottom of the disc l8.

Each of the clamps 2| has its longitudinal edges 2| bent inwards towards each other forming flanges over which flange portions 20 of the brackets. engage. A lug 22 is formed upon the rear end only of each clamp 2| and extends downward over the edge of the brackets 20 for holding these parts together. The brackets 20 may be removed and replaced with other traction elements of the same design, or other design. Thumb screws 2| are mounted on the clamps 2 I and engage slots 20 in the flange portions 2|) of the brackets 20 for clamping the brackets fixedly on the clamps 2 I, or other fastening means may be employed.

A member 23 is mounted upon the top face of the disc I8 and extends through an arcuate slot 5 24 formed in the flat body I5. This member 23 is in the form of an angle member having one arm 23 attached upon the top face of the disc I8 and having another arm 23 extending vertically upwards and through the arcuate slot 24. 10 A handle 25 is hingedly mounted on the disc I8 and extends upwards and is adapted for steering the scooter. This handle may be pivoted downwards to a position as illustrated in Fig. 3, substantially flat against the top of the flat body I5.

The disc I8 is rotatively supported by anaxial l fastening element 26 which extends upwards through the flat body I5. A nut or pin 21 engages upon the bottom of the fastening. element 25 for releasibly holding the disc I8.

A reinforcement plate 28, illustrated per se in Fig. 5, is attached by fastening elements 29 to the bottom face of the fiat body I5 coaxially with the fastening elements 28. This plate preferably 25 is made from metal. The body I5 preferably is made from wood or metal. The plate is provided with an arcuate slot 30 which is aligned with the arcuate slot 24. A ball bearing 3| is interposed between the edge portions of the disc I8 and the 30 plate 28. The arrangement is such that the ball bearing 3| serves to form the bearing for the turnabledisc I8.

The handle 25 comprises a tubular strip or member having a transverse top portion 25 by which it may be held and manipulated. The handle also has side arms 25 which extend downwards towards the fiat body I5. These arms 25 continue into curved portions 25 which engage around the edge portions of the flat body I5, and connect with a rod portion 25 see Fig. 4, extending across the bottom face of the disc I8. Several brackets 33 are attached upon the bottom face of the disc I8 and serve to turnably support the rod portion 25 The arrangement 5 is such that the handle 25 may be pivoted forwards or rearwards using the rod portion 25 as a pivot. Moreover when the handle 25 is turned it will correspondingly turn the disc I8.

A base arm 34 is hingedly connected with the member 23 and more particularly with the top end of the vertical arm 23 of this member. A front arm 35 is hingedly connected with the base arm 34 by a pintle, bolt, or rivet 36. The outer end of the front arm 35 has a tubular portion 31 which engages around a cross bar 25 mounted across the side arms 25 of the handle 25.

A latch is provided for holding the arms 34 and 35 in line with each other or permitting these arms to be bent about the pintle 36 as a pivot. This latch includes a leaf spring 38 having a central portion 38 and side arm portions 38 In cross section, the arms 34 and 35 are U-shaped. Moreover these arms are set one into the other as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. The leaf spring 38 is set into the arm 35 and is so arranged that the central portion 38 is located below the pintle 36. The side arms 38 extend along the side arm of the arm 35. At their extremities the side arms 38 are provided with outwardly projecting pins 40. Intermediate of their ends the arms 38 carry short pins 4|. These latter pins 4| normally extend through openings in the sides of the arms 35 and 34. In this condition the latch is in its closed position. This position is illustrated in Fig. 6.

When desired the pins 40 may be pressed towards each other so as to flex the side arms 38 of the leaf spring 38, in a manner to disengage the pins 4| from the sides of the arms 34. Then the arms 34 and 35 may be folded. In Fig. 4; the 5 arms 34, 35 are shown extended so as to hold the handle 25 in an upright position. When the latch is open and the arms 34 and 35 are folded, the handle 25 will be simultaneously moved downwards and the parts will assume positions as 10 illustrated in Fig. 3. In thisfigure the arm 34 is shown flat against the top face of the flat body I5, the arm 35 is shown extending forwards between the arm 34 of the handle 25, and the handle 25 ,is shown in a lowered position substan- 15 tially against the top of the fiat body I5.

The scooter body I5 is supported at the rear on wheels 44. These wheels are mounted in brackets 20 which in turn are supported on clamps similar to the clamp 2| in Figs. 7 and 8, 20 or are directly attached tothe body I5. Skate heel backs 52 may be connected with theclamp 2|. These backs 52 then project up through the openings 52 in the body I5. I

The scooter is also provided with a braking 25 system so that it may be stopped. The particular brake illustrated comprises a vertical stem 55 slidably engaging through an opening 56 in the flat body I5. A brake shoe 5'! is mounted upon the bottom end of the stem 55. A pedal 58 30 is mounted upon the top end of the stem 55. An expansion spring 59 is coaxially mounted on the stem 55 and acts between the pedal 58 and the top of the flat body for normally urging the stem upwards. gA collar 55 is mounted on the stem 55 35 and engages the bottom face of the body I5 for limiting upward motion of the stem. To apply the brake one steps upon the pedal 58 forcing the stem 55 downwards against the action of the spring 59 to the position indicated by the clot and 40 dash line in Fig. 10, and then the brake shoe 59 will engage the ground. In practice various other styles of brakes may be used. I

The scooter is also provided with a seat capable of holding several persons and capable of being '45 folded when desired. This seat includes a front member 52 normally extended vertically and at its bottom edge being connected with a hinge 63 mounted ,upon the top of the body I5, and arranged to hingedly support the back member 64. .50 The back member 64 is formed from tubing material or other material and is arranged to have a top horizontal arm 54? whichmay be gripped and manipulated. It also has side arms 54, and an intermediate horizontal arm 64. 55

A seat proper 65 is mounted between the intermediate horizontal arm 54 and an intermediate point on the front member 62. A railing 61 is mounted between the back member 84 and the front member 62, which people may grip 60 when seated upon the seat proper 66. Pintles 68 serve to hingedly connect the guide rail 61 to the side arms 64. At the front end, the side arms 6'! connect with a transverse element 5| which extends through a. tubular'portion 62 formedfifi upon the middle of the front member 62.

A base arm 34 is hingedly connected with an angle member 23 which is mounted on the back portion of the flat body I5. This base arm 34' is associated with a front arm35, the top of 70 which has a loop portion 31 engaging over transverse bar 64 The armsfl34' and 35' telescopically engage each other, the front arm 35 engaging into the base arm 34. A strongspring 34 is mounted upon the base arm 34 and has its 75 front end engaging through a slot 34 formed in the base arm 34'. This end of this spring engages one of a plurality of spaced recesses 35 formed. in the front arm 35. A knob 3 1 is stand to the back of the back and hold onto member E i, and another person may stand upon the front portion of the scooter to operate the steering handle and the brakes. propelled manually along the ground or may be driven down hill. i

To steer the scooter it is merely necessary that the handle 25 be turned in one direction or the other. This will cause turning of the disc 18.

he slots 24 and 30 do not interfere with the turning of the disc l8 since the angle member 23 extends upwards through these slots.

The scooter is folded in the following way, so as to reduce its compass for storing, shipping and other purposes.

, The pins Ml of the front arm 35 are pressed together to open the latch. Then the handle 25 may be hinged rearwardly and downwardly. Also the latch of the arms 34' and 35 of the back member 64 is released and the back member 64 may be hinged forwardly or rearwardly. As the back member is so moved the seat 66 and the rail 67 will be moved downwards substantially one upon the other and substantially flat against the top face of the body IS. The front member 82 will hinge, forwards or rearwards and downwards because of the hinge 63. The scooter is now in its folded condition.

In Fig. 11 another embodiment of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in several respects. In this form of the invention traction elements l9 which are runners for snow and ice, have been substituted for the wheels in the prior form. These traction elements l9 have flange l9" and are mounted upon clamps 2|, see Figs. 7 and 8. Furthermore traction elements 44' in the form of runners have been substituted for the traction elements 44 of the previous form of the invention which were wheels.

The scooter has also been provided with a sail or umbrella l0 mounted upon a mast H extended through an opening 12 formed in the seat proper 55. At the lower end of the mast 12 there are radial arms 13 which support side runners 14. The mast ll may be manually turned for directing the sail as desired into the wind. The mast H is formed of an upper section ll and a lower section H which are rotatively connected. The lower section 'H may be turned for turning the radial arms 13 to direct the runners 14 as desired, or the runners 74, may be guided with the feet by the sitter.

A flexible cover 15 is also mounted on the top arm 54 of the member 54. This cover 15 is shown rolled in an inoperative position. If desired it may be extended and used as a sun shield for some of the riders on the scooter, particularly those seated on the seat proper 66.

In other respects this form of theiinvention The scooter may be is identical to the prior and identical parts may berecognized by the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 12 another embodiment of the invention has been disclosed which relates particularly to the steering mechanism of a scooter. According to this-form of the invention the steering disc I 8 is provided at its top center with a tubular bracket and has a bottom portion ll attached to the bottom face of the disc l8 by a bracket l8; The steering post H is made from two sections hingedly connected together by a pintle 18. The upper sections of the post 'l! is engaged by a collar '19 which is hingedly connected by a pintle 80, to the upper end of the front arm 35 of a mechanism for holding the steering post 11 in an upright position or permitting the post to I be hinged downwards. The front arm 35 connects with a base arm 35 which in turn is pivotally connected at its rear end upon the angle member 23. This angle member is mounted upon the top of the disc l8. The connection between nected in their outer ends by pintles 85 and 86 respectively, to the steering wheel 32 of the post TI. This arrangement is such that in the extended position of the arms 84 they pass their dead center and lock the steering wheel 82 in substantially in horizontal position. Whenthe post 11 is folded downwards, as permitted by the arms as and 35 then the steering wheel 82 may be hinged to a horizontal position by folding the arms 84 back past their dead centers. To do this it is necessary that the arms 84 be folded together, and then the steering wheel 82 may be hinged on the pintle 83. The upper section of the steering post l! may be hinged downwards on the pintle 78. This steering unit is intended to be applied to a scooter, as previously described.

In Figs. 13 and 14 another embodiment of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the fact that the scooter comprises a flat scooter body 99, supported upon A pair of hingedly connected arms B l are pivotally consuitable traction elements 91, which in turn are supported on clamps 92 mounted upon the bottom of the scooter body 90. At the front, the

scooter is provided with a handle 93 formed from tubular or other material and having a bottom arm .lli and side arms 93 The bottom arm 93 'is hingedly supported by several brackets 94 wardlyextended position, or, if desired, the bar 96 and 9! may be folded by forcing them past said dead'center, to cause the handle 93 to move downwards flat against the top face of the body 96. At the rear of the flat body 99 there is a heel element 99 in which a skate-heel back may be placed. This scooter is intended to be of a small size so that an operator may rest one foot on the scooter and use the other foot to propel the same.

In Fig. 15 another form of steering mechanism has been disclosed which is very similar to the form illustrated in Fig. 12 but distinguishing in several respects. According to this form, the steering post 11 has a radially extending bottom end portion 'I'I which is pivotally connected with links I'l in turn pivotally connected with the front ends of clamps 2 l These clamps are pivotally supported near their rear ends by pintle rivets 2| upon the body of the disc l8. The clamps 2l support brackets in turn supporting traction elements such as the Wheels l9.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the form illustrated in Fig. 12 and like parts may be recognized by the same reference numerals.

When the steering wheel 82 is turned it will turn the radial arm 'll which will turn in one direction or the other, and this motion Will be transmitted by the link to pivot the brackets 2 l towards the right or towards the left, and so accomplish the steering.

While'we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A scooter, comprising a flat body, a disc axially rotatively mounted on the bottom face of said body at its front end, traction elements mounted on the bottom of said disc, a member mounted on said disc and extending through an arcuate slot in said body coaxially of said disc, a handle hingedly mounted on said disc and extending upwards for steering the scooter and foldable upon said fiat body, a base arm hingedly connected with said member, a front arm hingedly connected with said base arm and with said handle, and a latch for holding said arms fixedly together.

2. A scooter, comprising a flat body, a disc axially rotatively mounted on the bottom face of said body at its front end, traction elements mounted on the bottom of said disc, a member mounted on said disc and extending through an arcuate slot in said body coaxially of said disc, a handle hingedly mounted on said disc and extending upwards for steering the scooter and foldable upon said fiat body, a base arm hingedly connected with said member, a front arm hingedly connected with said base arm and with said handle, and a latch for holding said arms fixedly together, and a reinforcement plate mounted upon the bottom of said flat body and superimposed upon said disc and having an arcuate slot aligning with a slot in said disc, and a ball bearing interposed between said disc and said plate.

3. A scooter, comprising a fiat body, a disc axially rotatively mounted on the bottom face of said body at its front end, traction elements mounted on the bottom of said disc, a member mounted on said disc and extending through an arcuate slot in said body coaxially of said disc, a handle hingedly mounted on said disc and extending upwards for steering the scooter and foldable upon said flat body, a base arm hingedly connected with said member, a front arm hingedly connected with said base arm and with said handle, and a latch for holding said arms fixedly together, said member comprising an angle memher having one arm attached to said disc and having its other arm extended upwards through said slot.

4. A scooter, comprising a flat body, a disc axially rotatively mounted on the bottom face of said body at its front end, traction elements mounted on the bottom of said disc, a member mounted on said disc and extending through an arcuate slot in said body coaxially of said disc, a handle hingedly mounted on said disc and extending upwards for steering the scooter and foldable upon said flat body, a base arm hingedly connected with said member, a front arm hingedly connected with said base arm and with said handle, and a latch for holding said arms fixedly together, said handle having a top horizontal portion by which it may be gripped and side portions extending downwards across the sides of said body, and a bottom portion extending across said disc and hingedly connected therewith.

5. A scooter, comprising a fiat body, a disc axially rotatively mounted on the bottom face of said body at its front end, traction elements mounted on the bottom of said disc, a member mounted on said disc and extending through an arcuate slot in said body coaxially of said disc, a handle hingedly mounted on said disc and extending upwards for steering the scooter and foldable upon said flat body, a base arm hingedly connected with said member, a front arm hingedly connected with said base arm and with said handle, and a latch for holding said arms fixedly together, said handle having a top horizontal portion by which it may be gripped and side portions extending downwards across the sides of said body, and a bottom portion extending across said disc and hingedly connected therewith, by several brackets mounted upon the disc.

6. A scooter, comprising a flat body, a disc axially rotatively mounted on the bottom face of said body at its front end, traction elements mounted on the bottom of said disc, a member mounted on said disc and extending through an arcuate slot in said body coaxially of said disc, a handle hingedly mounted on said disc and extending upwards for steering the scooter and foldable upon said flat body, a base arm hingedly connected with said member, a front arm hingedly connected with said base arm and with said handle, and a latch for holding said arms fixedly together, said arms being of U-shape in transverse cross section and portions of said arms being set one into the other.

'7. A scooter, comprising a flat body, a disc axially rotatively mounted on the bottom face of said body at its front end, traction elements mounted on the bottom of said disc, a member mounted on said disc and extending through an arcuate slot in said body coaxially of said disc, a handle hingedly mounted on said disc and extending upwards for steering the scooter and foldable upon said flat body, a base arm hingedly connected with said member, a front arm hingedly connected with said base arm and with said handle, and a latch for holding said arms fixedly together, said arms being of U-shape in transverse cross section and portions of said arms being set one into the other, and said latch comprising a U-shaped spring mounted within one of the arms, locking pins mounted on the side arms of said spring and engaged through the overlapping portion of said arms to lock them together, and another pin mounted on said side arms by which said side arms may be manipulated to release said locking pin.

8. A scooter, comprising a flat body, a disc axially rotatively mounted on the bottom face of said body at its front end, traction elements mounted on the bottom of said disc, a member mounted on said disc and extending through an arcuate slot in said body coaxially of said disc, a handle hingedly mounted on said disc and extending upwards for steering the scooter and fo-ldable upon said flat body, a base arm hingedly connected with said member, a front arm hing-,

edly connected with said base arm and with said handle, a latch for holding said arms fixedly together, and back Wheels for said fiat body.

9. A scooter, comprising a flat body, a disc axially rot-atively mounted on the bottom face of said body at its front end, traction elements mounted on the bottom of said disc, 2. member mounted on said disc and extending through an arcuate slot in said body coaxially of said disc, a handle hingedly mounted on said disc and extending upwards for steering the scooter and foldable upon said fiat body, a base arm hingedly connected with said member, a front arm connected with said base arm and hingedly connected with said handle, a latch for holding said arms fixedly together, and a brake for said scooter.

SAMUEL S. MITILEBURG. CLIFFORD LOBE'L. 

